Tom was shaking, he couldn't do it, but he already left the house, it would be terrible for Asha and soke to see him return for his glasses.

'it has to be done" he thought

"it'll be good for you"

"their your friends."

" so why"

"are you afraid."

he had doubts.
doubts that theyd be okay with them.
but he had to do it.
for Tord.

he felt sick to his stomach, he vomited in a bush, felt a bit better after. He stumbled to the fence. He prayed that Asha or Soke weren't watching from the window, he guessed not, surely they would've ran out by now.

speaking of running, he heard footsteps, fast ones,

'Tord' he thought.

'oh no. ' he didn't want Tord to find him like this, he'd think its his fault all over again, tom tried to appear healthier, happier, but luck seemed to be against him, as he felt his knees buckle and he slowly sat down on the ground,

he heard Tord scream his name and run over

"Thomas?" Tord patted him on the shoulder with his right hand as his left was on Toms back.

"Whats wrong? Whats wrong with your eyes? Do they hurt? Is something in them? Are-" He was cut off by tom removing his hand, Tord felt his heart ache as he noticed his tears.

"Tom..."

" I didnt- You dont need- Im-" Tord studdered

"No." Tom hiccuped. " I did this, I took them off, I have to. " he sniffled.

"Tom I said I wasnt gonna be the one to remove them, but I did. Didnt I?" Tord gave a saddened smile of pity.

"No...I took them off...." Tom began to slowly calm down, but the tears still fell.

" but I did. " Tord felt bad for the poor soul infront of him, he felt a need to comfort him, not wanting to go too far, he placed his hand on Toms face,  and wiped away a tear with his thumb. Tom liked the small action.

"Maybe not physically, but emotionally, did I make you think you had to do this now?"

Tom didnt respond.

"C'mon" Tord sighed, he stood up and dusted off his legs, than reached out a hand to Tom. "Lets go get your glasses."

Tom sniffed and took his hand to get up, feeling a bit stronger.

"No."

Tord put on a look of confusion.

"I want to do this."

" I want to. "

Tord didnt know what to say. So he put a hand on his shoulder

"Are you sure Thomas?"

"Sure as hell." he chuckled .

His heart ached
it
hurt like hell.

Tord began to walk off.
tom felt the rising fear.

Tord felt a someone grab his arm, he had his hands in his hoodie pocket. He turned to look at Tom.

"Tord."

"whats the matter?"

Tom seemed hesitant to make his request.

"Can I"

tom intertwined his arm with Tords and grabbed violently onto his sleeve with his right hand,

Tord shivered as he felt the sudden warmth.

"Is this okay?"

" Can I do this? "

Tord was silent for a couple of seconds until he managed a quiet "yep" out of his shaking, flustered, self.

they took a few steps, and then tom burried his face in tords arm sleeve.

Tord quickly turned and asked him if he was okay.

it had become a reflex.

"Im just scared. Im still doing it. I just.."

" you don't need to explain. " Tord sighed.

Tom quietly nodded as Tord took on the challenge of walking with a temporarily blind human with a death grip on his arm.

another pair of footsteps approached.

"Hi Laddi." Toms ears perked up at the name, this was the babysitter! 'Oh gosh' he worried of how'd she think of him.

'strange' he thought.

"Hi Tord!" She  giggled, noticing the person on her sweater , she thought it was cute, and then it hit her that this person had a terrified look and act, she saw him shaking.

"Is he okay?" Her sunshiney voice quickly turned to a saddened concerned voice. She stopped on her tracks .

Tord had already stopped, ready to cross the road.

he sighed. "Hes just a little shaken, that's all."

tom smiled in fhe fabric of Tords hoodie. 'Liar.'

Laddi gave a sympathetic, "oh" and "feel better!" as she walked off.

Tord smiled.
Tom knew the kids would love her.

And then the dreaded stopsign.

Edd and Matt were first filled with happiness, then it quickly turned to concern.

"Whats wrong with Tim?" Matt blurted

" Tom" edd growled at him, Matt took no offense and shrugged.

Tord sighed. "hes fine, hes just afraid to show you guys something."

Edd was confused .

"Well what is it?"

Tom whined loudly into Tords sleeve. Tord simply patted him on the head with his free hand, "Take your time."

lets just say...
That was the opposite of what he did.

Tom quickly, before he could change his mind, Took out his head and showed his eyes,  he hid his lips in his mouth, something he did out of anxiety.

Edd stood shocked as Matt screeched loudly.

"Way to be a good friend, Matt" Tord groaned.

"He did it so fast it look like it was from a horror game! "

"Im sorry" Tom mumbled.

"Its okay Tim!" matt cheered.

Tord gave him a death glare.

"I-I mean Tom!" he laughed awkwardly .
"I like your eyes! They're cool! Like me." Matt tried to lighten the mood by giving his signature smile . Tom giggled.

"Edd?" Tord sighed, he wanted to get this over with so tom could feel better.

and let go of his damn arm, that shit hurt.

Edd shrugged. "Im not disgusted or anything, just a bit surprised, i mean, they'll take a while to get used to, but i..." he tried to look for the right word, then he got it.

" I think their pretty swell." He gve a soft smile.

tom began to tear up, and let go of Tords arm. Matt hugged him, followed by edd, after tord rubbed his numb arm, he willingly joined in.

Tom felt all the love in the world in just these three boys.

"I lovee you guyyyss" he sniffed.

"We love you too." Edd smiled.

when they let go, tom rubbed his eyes, Matt stated,

"Tord loves us too!"

Tord smiled.

pfft, yeah right, Tord Larison loves no one.

...

okay maybe that was a lie.

Tord huffed.
"Yep I surrender." he held up his arms.

Edd and Matt gasped.

"So You love us?" they said, admonished .

tord smirked and lowered his arms.

"No."

Edd put on a playful pained expression, Matts seemed to be real, Tom shook his head smiling.

"How are you gonna manage in the festival?" Edd asked, looking to tom as Tord patted matts shoulder lightly.

Tom smiled.

"I only get frightened when its people i have to be around often, when I was little, my parents allowed me to roam around with no covering on my eyes, so people didn't mind, besides, their strangers, they could call them dirt for all I care. " he shrugged.

Tord cheered as he was surprised by Toms response. "THATS OUR BOOOYYYY!" he laughed as Matt continued .

"YEA!" he walked over and slung an arm across Toms shoulders. "IF ANYONE TRIES TO INSULT MY PAL'S BOWLING BALL EYES YOU'LL HAVE TO SEE ME! "

Tord was just about to murder Matt, but Tom broke out in a laughing fit.

"Thats a new one.." he chuckled , Edd joined in the loud screaming.

"YEAH! LETS ALL CHEER FOR THE BRAVEST GUY IN THIS TOWN!"

" TOM RIDGEEE"

And all three of the teens wooed loudly for Tom.

And then someone threw a glass bottle in the street from a second floor building.

"SHUT UP."

dead silence.

was soon replaced by laughter as the friends crossed the street into the field where the festival was held.

laughing, smiling, being...

friends.

Today is a good day.

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Notes

Lol I suck, I had to get this out of the way, and so its still not the actual event, but a chapters a chapter, am i right?

ye?
ok.

the next chapter is friends friday I promise.

Also, sorry its short, I just didnt wanna get a happy "group adventure" and a sad  "Tom is emotionally unstable" plot, in the same chapter

once again

Thank you guys so so much for-

are you fucking with me theres 600 now-

OKAY DAMN

THANKS FOR THAT INCREASE OF 278 IN JUST ONE DAY

AAAAAAAAAAAA
seriously though, thank you soooo muchhhhhh aaaaaaaaa

my tear ducts are flooded.

remember, as a gift for being such wonderful readers, I will be taking questions and sketch requests! Dont be shy, I dont mind doing it! You can comment what youd like drawn or answered in any of the newest chapters (or in the 500 one) until Tuesday!

ooo also if you want it to be anonymous, which, could be impossible, just be sure to type "anom" with whatever you say.

Thanks to
BbTheBird
Assertedwoah
TheAwkwardPersonz
HootyHollyStrawberry
Desired_Starr
Lustxhorror
and
love this next username
lil_gay_red_panda

for either voting,commenting a lovely and sweet comment, or adding this story to their public library

i mean like some of yall did all three so theres that too-

And thank you for reading and following the development of this story!

see you next chapter!
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